Lil, My parents have a computer but they rarely use it...hopefully it's working. I thnak you so much for all your support...I am thinking about Niagara Falls ( good imagery as I was there this past summer and made plans to go back in August) and keeping this BB as a life vest.
Karen, thanks for checking in, esp with baby and all.
I feel I have become a stronger person since coming to the board...more defined and better able to handle crisis. My S12, who is very close with my father, and is an openly emotional child, told me that he won't allow himself to get too depressed if grandpa dies, as grandpa would not want that. Out of the mouth of babes, huh?
I haven't been in your situation, but I would imagine that the best thing you can do is talk about how you feel with your kids. Tell them that you're sad, scared, afraid, etc. Tell them it's ok to feel whatever they're feeling, and that you'll help each other through. Encourage them to talk about their feelings.
It sounds like you're handling things well given the circumstances. Hang in there.
Sorry NJ. My Dad is in his 80's himself (parents were in their 40's when I popped out) so I know these issues will be approaching soon. Scary stuff. You can never really prepare for it. Be well. LFL
mrs.c, I have one child, who, like your H, is a classice type 5 and it's impossible to get her to come forward spontaneously with her feelings, although she feels a lot. I've learned a trick, though...I can get stuff out of her while driving in the car!
LFL, I hope you get some of the marital issues settled before the parental crises begin... it kind of happened at the same time for me.
Things do work out the way theyn are meant to...justt rying to stay calm here and keep the faith.
he won't allow himself to get too depressed if grandpa dies, as grandpa would not want that. Out of the mouth of babes, huh?
Sorry, I can't support this... I would suggest that you tell him to be just as sad as he feels like being and that his sadness is a tribute to his Grandpa and honors his memory. Tell him not to worry that he will get stuck in sadness, that in fact, the way to get stuck in sadness is when you DON'T let yourself be as sad as you want to be. It will be like when you jump in the deep end of the pool-- if you let yourself go down, you will naturally come back up. This is very Jewish, as you know, to truly let yourself grieve, knowing that you will come back up.
